Core Insights - Crescent Energy Company (NYSE:CRGY) experienced a significant stock price increase of 7.76%, closing at $11.66, following its return to profitability in the previous year [1][8]. Financial Performance - The company reported an attributable net income of $132.9 million, a turnaround from a net loss of $114.6 million in 2024, with revenues increasing by 22% to $3.58 billion from $2.93 billion year-on-year [2]. - In the fourth quarter, Crescent Energy recorded an attributable net loss of $8.66 million, which is a 93% improvement from the $118 million net loss in the same quarter the previous year. Total revenues slightly decreased by 1% to $865 million from $875 million [3]. - Average total production for the year was 260 MBoe/d, including 104 MBo/d of oil, exceeding the company's guidance. For the current year, the production target is set between 320 and 335 MBoe/d [2][3]. Shareholder Returns - The company announced a dividend distribution of $0.12 per share to shareholders on record as of March 11, 2026, payable on March 25 [4]. - Crescent Energy has raised and extended its share repurchase program to $400 million from a previous $150 million, with $33 million already repurchased [5].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the potential implications of the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, suggesting that investors should avoid hasty reactions to the news, particularly in relation to safe-haven assets like gold and treasuries [1]. Group 1: Market Reactions - Following the reported death of Khamenei, it is anticipated that safe assets such as gold and U.S. Treasuries will see an increase in value as investors seek refuge amid geopolitical uncertainty [1]. - The article emphasizes that the U.S. and Israel are actively pursuing regime change in Iran, which could lead to further instability in the region and impact global oil markets [1]. Group 2: Oil Market Implications - The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for oil exports, with over 14.5 million barrels of crude condensate passing through daily in 2025, highlighting the strategic importance of the region in global energy supply [1]. - The potential for increased military action in Iran could disrupt oil exports, leading to volatility in oil prices and affecting energy markets worldwide [1].

Core Viewpoint - SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) has shown strong performance recently, driven by a significant increase in its quarterly dividend and strategic asset sales, despite a decline in net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2025 [1][4]. Group 1: Dividend and Shareholder Value - SM Energy announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it to $0.22 per share, effective for shareholders on record as of March 9, 2026, with payment scheduled for March 23 [2]. - The company is also executing a share buyback program worth $500 million, with $12 million already repurchased, expected to continue until December 31, 2027 [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For the full year 2025, SM Energy's net income decreased by 15.8% to $648 million from $770 million in 2024, while total operating revenues increased by 17% to $3.15 billion from $2.69 billion year-on-year [4]. - In the fourth quarter of 2025, net income fell by 42% to $109 million from $188 million in the same period a year earlier, and total operating revenues declined by 17% to $705 million from $852 million year-on-year [5].

Core Viewpoint - Rosen Law Firm has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. for the period between November 5, 2024, and February 11, 2026, due to alleged misleading statements regarding the company's prospects and dividend maintenance [1][5]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The class action lawsuit claims that defendants made false and/or misleading statements about Franklin BSP Realty Trust's business and operations, including overstating its prospects and ability to maintain a $0.355 dividend [5]. - Investors who purchased securities during the class period may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket fees through a contingency fee arrangement [2]. Group 2: Next Steps for Investors - Investors wishing to join the class action can do so by visiting the provided link or contacting the law firm directly [3][6]. - A lead plaintiff must be appointed by April 27, 2026, to represent other class members in the litigation [1][3]. Group 3: Rosen Law Firm's Credentials - Rosen Law Firm has a strong track record in securities class actions, having achieved significant settlements, including the largest securities class action settlement against a Chinese company [4]. - The firm has been consistently ranked among the top firms for securities class action settlements and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors [4].

Company Overview - Akre Focus ETF is an actively-managed fund that offers a diversified portfolio of U.S. equities, including common and preferred stocks, REITs, partnership interests, and convertible securities [4] - The fund employs a disciplined, quality-focused investment strategy, concentrating on U.S. companies with strong shareholder returns and proven management [5] - As of February 27, 2026, the fund's price was $56.14, with an AUM of $8.42 billion [3] Recent Developments - Cross Staff Investments Inc established a new position in Akre Focus ETF by purchasing 289,630 shares valued at approximately $18.97 million, representing 10.45% of the fund's 13F reportable AUM as of December 31, 2025 [1][2] - The top five holdings after the filing include significant investments in companies like Costco, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, and Amazon [8] Performance Metrics - As of February 28, 2026, shares of Akre Focus ETF were priced at $56.14, reflecting a decline of 20.61% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 37.97 percentage points [2][10] - The fund has historically outperformed the S&P 500 since its launch in 2009, but has faced challenges in recent years, with a price drop of over 20% in the last 12 months [10] Investment Strategy - The ETF's competitive edge lies in its rigorous selection process and dynamic capital allocation, allowing for the sale of positions when valuations become excessive or better opportunities arise [6] - The fund requires that no more than 25% of assets be allocated to a single stock and no more than 35% to international stocks, although it remains concentrated with under 20 holdings [9]

Core Insights - As of February 25, only three companies have a market capitalization exceeding $3 trillion: Nvidia, Apple, and Alphabet, with Microsoft recently falling below this threshold [1] - Meta Platforms is currently valued at approximately $1.6 trillion and is exploring the potential to reach a $3 trillion market cap within the next two years [2] Meta's AI Strategy - Meta's AI roadmap includes a new machine learning product called Advantage+, which automates ad campaigns and enhances demographic targeting for marketers [4] - Advantage+ enables advertisers to better understand which ads resonate with different customer segments, allowing for strategic budget allocation across Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp [5] Performance Metrics - In Q3, Meta's CFO reported that Advantage+ achieved a $60 billion annual revenue run rate, indicating strong performance [7] - In Q4, Meta's video generation tools under Advantage+ reached a $10 billion annual revenue run rate, with growth in this segment outpacing overall ad revenue growth by three times quarter over quarter [8] - A new attribution tool introduced by Meta led to a 24% increase in incremental conversions compared to the standard model, achieving a multi-billion-dollar annual run rate within seven months of its launch [9] Capital Expenditures - In 2024, Meta's capital expenditures (capex) are projected to be $39 billion, with a significant increase in spending from the previous year, which totaled $72 billion [10] - Management indicated that capex could reach up to $135 billion this year, nearly double the amount compared to 2025 levels [10]

Core Insights - Amazon and Costco are both significant players in the e-commerce and retail sectors, but they are entering 2026 with different valuation multiples and growth trajectories [1][2] - Amazon's stock has decreased by approximately 14% recently due to a new capital spending plan, while Costco's stock has increased by 17% year-to-date, reflecting investor confidence in its stable business model [2] Amazon: Accelerating Growth and Heavy Spending - Amazon's Q4 results showed a 14% year-over-year increase in total net sales, reaching $213.4 billion, up from 13% growth in the previous quarter [5] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a 24% year-over-year revenue growth, totaling $35.6 billion, indicating a recovery from previous optimization headwinds [6] - Operating income for Amazon rose from $21.2 billion to $25 billion year-over-year, but future operating income may face challenges due to a planned $200 billion capital expenditure in 2026, significantly higher than the $131.8 billion spent in 2025 [7] - CEO Andy Jassy highlighted strong demand for AWS, particularly for AI workloads, which will pressure free cash flow in the short term but underscores the demand scale [8] Costco: The Durability Premium - Costco's fiscal Q1 2026 net sales increased by 8.2% year-over-year to approximately $66 billion, with comparable sales in the U.S. rising by 5.9% [10] - Membership fee revenue surged by 14% year-over-year to $1.33 billion, with a high renewal rate of 92.2% in the U.S. and Canada despite a recent fee increase [11] - Costco's market valuation is about 54 times earnings, reflecting investor confidence in its business model, but this high valuation leaves little room for error if consumer spending slows [12] Comparative Analysis - Amazon trades at about 29 times earnings, which is considered compelling given its growth in high-margin advertising revenue by 22% and cloud revenue by 24% [13] - The potential risk for Amazon lies in its aggressive AI spending not yielding expected returns, which could pressure margins longer than anticipated [14] - The recommendation suggests that while Costco may not be the best buy at its current valuation, Amazon presents a buying opportunity on its recent dip [14]

Group 1: Mall Performance and Trends - Indoor malls have shown growth, outperforming open-air centers and outlet malls, with visit gains in all four quarters of 2025, indicating a shift from recovery to growth [1] - Overall mall visits increased by 1.3% for the full year, with A malls performing well while C and D malls are declining [2] Group 2: Macy's Store Closures - Macy's is planning to close around 150 stores, having already closed 66 locations, as part of its strategy to streamline operations [3][15] - The latest round of closures includes 14 stores across 12 states, with specific locations listed [7] Group 3: Macy's Turnaround Strategy - Macy's "Bold New Chapter" strategy focuses on strengthening stores, simplifying operations, and investing in customer experiences, with store closures being a key component [5][6] - The stores set to close represent about 25% of gross square footage but less than 10% of sales, with remaining locations outperforming non-go-forward locations significantly in sales and EBITDA [13] Group 4: Analyst Opinions on Macy's Strategy - Analysts express mixed views on Macy's turnaround efforts, with some seeing the store closures as necessary for right-sizing, while others lack confidence in the plan due to past neglect [10][11][12]

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO Greg Abel emphasizes continuity in the company's core values and operations following Warren Buffett's leadership, aiming to reassure investors about the company's future stability and growth [1][2][7]. Company Operations - Berkshire Hathaway reported a nearly 30% decline in operating profits in the fourth quarter, with insurance underwriting earnings dropping over 54% [8]. - The company incurred a $4.5 billion impairment charge, including an $8.3 billion loss related to its investments in Kraft Heinz Co. and Occidental Petroleum Corp. [9]. - Berkshire's cash reserves decreased to $373.3 billion from $381.7 billion, with a reported 11.9% decline in investment income over the past year [9]. - The annual insurance underwriting pretax earnings fell 17% year-over-year, with Geico's pretax earnings down approximately 13% to $6.8 billion due to increased advertising costs [10]. Leadership Transition - Abel acknowledges the challenge of following Buffett but commits to maintaining the company's principles of capital discipline, integrity, and long-term investment [2][3]. - The upcoming annual meeting will feature other executives from the Berkshire portfolio, marking a shift towards greater transparency about the company's leadership [8]. - Abel plans to maintain the current communication style with investors, focusing on quality over frequency, and will not provide quarterly commentary [6][5]. Shareholder Returns Policy - The company will continue to buy back shares when they are believed to be trading below intrinsic value, and it will abstain from paying dividends as long as retained earnings can create more than one dollar of market value for shareholders [3][4].

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Varonis Systems, Inc. for allegedly making materially false and misleading statements regarding its business operations and prospects during the class period from February 4, 2025, to October 28, 2025 [6]. Allegation Details - The lawsuit claims that Varonis failed to disclose that it was not adequately prepared to sustain its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth without maintaining a high rate of quarterly conversions [6]. - The complaint highlights that positive statements made by the company regarding its business were misleading and lacked a reasonable basis [6]. - Following the release of disappointing third-quarter financial results on October 28, 2025, which included a 63.9% year-over-year decline in term license subscription revenues, the company's stock price dropped significantly [6]. Next Steps - Investors who purchased Varonis shares during the class period and suffered losses are encouraged to contact the law firm Bragar Eagel & Squire for more information and to discuss their legal rights [4]. - The deadline for investors to apply to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit is March 9, 2026 [6].